Wire-twisting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

D.T.GLARK. WIRE TWISTING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

w w W M mw UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEO.

DANIEL T. CLARK, OF LESLIEL MIOHIGAN.

WIRE-TWISTING MACHINE.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,411, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed August 31, 1388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL '1. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leslie, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in WVire-Twisting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire-twisting machines for building wire-andpicket fences; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire-twisting machine embodying my improvements, showing the same in the act of twisting the wires between the pickets of a fence. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of my improved wire-twisting machine. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a similar view with one side of the case removed, so as to disclose the interior mechanism. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line as x of Fig. 2.

A represents a case or frame, which is vertical and is composed of two boards or sides, B O, placed together, the board B being provided on its inn er side with side flanges, D, which serve to separate the opposing sides of the boards and to form a space between them of about an inch in thickness. Arranged between the boards B O, at the center of the same, is a twisting-head, E, which is circular in shape and has projecting trunnions or bosses F at its ends, which have their bearings in openings G in the boards or sides. The said twisting-head is further provided with a pair of transverse openings, H, and has peripheral sprocket-teeth I between the boards or sides of the case. Near the upper and lower ends of the case are similar twisting-heads, K,which are of the same construction as the twisting head E and are journaled in the same manner in the sides of the case. Between the central twisting-head, E, and the upper and lower twisting-heads K are guide pulleys or sheaves L, which are journaled on pins or bolts M, that extend transversely through the sides of the case, the said guiding sheaves or pulleys being also arranged in the interior of the ease with the twisting-heads.

N represents an endless sprocketchain,

Serial No. 284,261. (No model.)

which connects the twisting-heads K, engages opposite sides of the twisting-head E, and also engages the guiding sheaves or pulleys L, the function of the latter being to keep the sprocket-chain in engagement with the teeth of the central twisting-head, E.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when one of the twistingheads is rotated the endless sprocketehain causes the remaining twisting-heads to rotate in unison therewith.

0 represents a circular block, which is arranged on the rear side of the twisting-head E, forms virtually an extension of one of its trunnions, and is provided with openings P, which coincide with the transverse opening in said twisting-head.

It represents a gear-wheel of suitable size, which is arranged on the outer side of the circular block 0 and is secured thereto, and the latter is secured to the central twisting-head by means of clamping-bolts S, which extend through aligned transverse bolt-holes in the twisting-head, block, and gear-wheel. The latter is also provided with transverse openin gs T, which register with the similar; openin gs in the twisting-head and block. The said gear-wheel is provided on its inner side with beveled gear-teeth. On the rear side of the case and concentric with the block is a semicircular flange Z, which bears against the inner side of the wheel R and serves to steady the same on the block.

U represents a strap, which is bolted to one edge of the board 0, at the center thereof. J ournaled in the center of this strap is a short shaft, V, to the inner end of which is secured a pinion, W, which meshes with the wheel R. The outer projecting end of said shaft is squared and is provided with a detachable crank-handle, Z, by means of which the said shaft may be rotated, so as to cause the pinion to impart rotary motion to the wheel R, and from the latter to the central twistinghead, E, and consequently cause said twisting-head and the endless chain to rotate the twisting-heads K at the same rate of speed and in the same direction as the twistinghead E.

The boards B C are secured together by means of bolts A, and on the outer side of the board 13, which forms the front of the case, at the upper and lower ends thereof, are secured blocks B, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The pairs of fence wires a are strung through the transverse openings in the twistingheads and are tightened to a suitable degree by means of a tension device, such as are commonly employed for this purpose and are well understood by persons skilled in this art. A picket, b, is then inserted between the bights of the wires and caused to bear against the front sides of the blocks B, and the operator then rotates the crank-handle sufficiently to cause the twisting-heads to rotate the desired number of timessay twice or thrice-and thereby cause said twisting-heads to twist the wires behind the picket. When the machine is slid along the Wires a sufficient distance from the picket, another picket is inserted in the bights of the wires and the twisting-heads caused to rotate in the reverse direction, so

as to secure said second picket in place, and so on until the fence has been completed. Immediately after each picket is inserted between the wires the twistin g-machine is driven forward, so as to cause the blocks B thereof to force the picket into the bights of the wires at the proper distance from the picket which has been previously secured.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1. The combination of the case having the openings in its sides, the twisting-heads having the trunnions journaled in said openings and having the transverse openings and the peripheral sprocket-teeth, the endless chain connecting the twisting-heads and engaging the teeth thereof, the block bearing against 1 the rear trunnion of one of the twisting-heads, the geanwheel R on the outer side of said blocks, said block and gear-wheel having,

peripheral sprocket-teeth, the endless chain connecting the said twisting-heads and adapted to rotate the same in the same direction, the block bearing against one of the twistingheads and having the openings coinciding with those of said head, the gear-wheel R, bearing against said block and having similar openings, the bolts clamping the said twisting-head, block, and gear-wheel together, the crank-shaft journaled in one side of the case, and the pinion on said crank-shaft and engaging the gear-wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL T. CLARK.

Witnesses:

EDMOND POTTER, HENRY T. HARDY, Sr. 

